Digital Commons Network^™

The Lived Experiences Of The Flint Water Crisis And Its Psychological Effects, Joe W. Glenn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Flint, Michigan, water crisis of 2014, with lead contamination of drinking water, adversely affected predominantly Black, socioeconomically disadvantaged residents. However, no research has investigated residents’ experiences, especially their trust in local and state government leaders. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of the Flint water crisis and its psychological effects. Rawls’s theory of justice provided the framework for the study. Three research questions guided this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study. Information from eight Flint residents was collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis followed Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological steps. Five strong themes emerged: understanding individual perceptions, views …

How Female Leaders Perceive The Influence Of Gender On Career Advancement In The Indonesian Construction Industry, Jadeviput Suwanarat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women who work in leadership positions in the construction industry in Indonesia face gender related challenges. Grounded in Acker’s theory of gendered organizations, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study examined how women leaders experience and interpret gender-related workplace challenges. I collected data through semistructured interviews with nine women leaders in the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Area and analyzed the data using the modified van Kaam method. Manual coding produced seven emergent themes. Key findings showed that gender inequality is embedded in organizational culture, policies, and everyday practices rather than occurring as isolated incidents. Women leaders reported heightened scrutiny, the need to continually …

Overcoming Igf1r-Mediated Resistance To Oncolytic Hsv1 And Radiotherapy Via Triple Combination Therapy, Alexandra A Miller, Min-Hye Noh, Jin Muk Kang, Jiyeon Kim, Lily Nguyen, Amanda S Kouaho, Grace Nguyen, Minxin Huang, Stephanie M Bean, Joshua Davis, Matthew P Mullarkey, Sunil Krishnan, Zhongming Zhao, E Antonio Chiocca, Tae Jin Lee, Ji Young Yoo

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

FDA-approved oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (oHSV) therapy has emerged as a promising viro-immunotherapy for solid tumors. However, tumor- and tumor microenvironment (TME)-associated adaptations following viral treatment, such as feedback immune suppression, neoangiogenesis, and enhanced tumor aggressiveness, often hinder complete tumor eradication. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to oHSV is crucial to enhancing its clinical impact. We recently discovered that oHSV induces Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) secretion, shaping an immunosuppressive TME. Similarly, radiotherapy (RTx) activates the IGF1/IGF1R and YAP1 signaling pathways, further promoting therapeutic resistance. In this study, we investigated how oHSV-induced Insulin-like growth factor 1 …

From Classroom To Capital Markets: Developing Equity Research And Valuation Skills Through A Cairn Homes Plc Case Study, Varun Kumar, Payal Mehra, Conor O'Byrne, Charles Coyle, Karan Dua

Critical Letters in Economics & Finance

This case study focuses on Cairn Homes (C5H), leading to a BUY recommendation and a 12-month price target of €2.38. The equity valuation and the research process led to an estimation of 14.4% upside from the €2.08 close on 2 January 2026. The valuation process is based on an equal-weighted framework that combines DCF, relative valuation, sum-of-the-parts, and dividend discount models, as detailed throughout this report. Policy and regulatory assumptions and recommendations are informed by insights from eight industry experts, including senior economists at the ECB and the Central Bank of Ireland, who anchor macroprudential and interest rate projections. Near-term …

Comparison Of Methods For Defatted Human Milk And Nutrient Composition: An Experimental Study, Kristin Cheng, Gina O'Toole, Stephanie Chang, Richard Chang, John Miklavcic

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Human milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition; however, it is often discontinued in chylothorax and severe very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. As an alternative to complete human milk restriction, defatted human milk may be fed, though it may not fully support optimal infant growth and development. This study aimed to assess the micronutrient profile of defatted human milk.

Methods

Human milk was obtained from UCSD Human Milk Research Biorepository (San Diego, CA). Thirty samples representing 10 independent expressions in the morning, afternoon, and evening were pooled for analysis. Fat removal was performed by centrifugation at …

School And Community-Based Mentoring: How Christian Principals Facilitate Connections For Socially Isolated Adolescents, Kellee Murrell

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

The dissertation focuses on research on adolescent social isolation and on the practices of Christian principals in implementing mentoring programs. Existing Christian and secular mentoring programs are analyzed to assess their effectiveness. The design of a pilot mentoring program tailored to the unique responsibilities of Christian principals, incorporating spiritual and emotional development, is presented. Developing mentoring programs and responding to vulnerable students are clear ways Christian school principals embody Christ’s love, justice, and concern. A contribution of this dissertation is that adolescent social isolation not only affects developmental growth but is also a moral issue.

Who Pays Dividend? Statistical Explanation And Machine Learning Prediction: Evidence From Pakistan, Zohaib Aziz, Javed Iqbal

The Indonesian Capital Market Review

This study explains and predicts the firm’s dividend payment decision using an unbalanced panel dataset of non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange covering the period 2009-2020. Several traditional statistical models and modern machine learning algorithms are applied to examine the firm-specific and macroeconomic determinants of dividend decision. Logistic regression and dynamic panel probit models indicate that lagged dividend, firm efficiency and firm size positively influence the firm’s dividend decision whereas leverage and sales growth show negative effects. Lagged dividend is found to be the most influential variable in explaining and predicting the dividend decision while the role of …

Ceo Gender, Trade Credit, Covid-19 Pandemic, And Corporate Dividend Policies In Vietnam, Trang Ngoc Doan Tran Ms., Linh Ngoc Thi Nguyen Ms., Dung Phuong Ngoc Tran Ms., Khoa Dang Duong Dr.

The Indonesian Capital Market Review

This comprehensive study examines the dynamic interplay among CEO gender, trade credit, and dividend policies across 563 listed companies in Vietnam from 2006 to 2024. Employing the Generalized Method of Moments to address the endogeneity issue. The findings show that firms led by female CEOs distribute significantly lower dividends than those led by male CEOs. Moreover, a positive nexus exists between trade credit and the dividend payout ratio of listed firms in Vietnam. Furthermore, the study reveals that CEO gender moderates the relationship between trade credit and dividend payouts in Vietnam. Finally, our robustness tests confirm that the results remain …

Bull’S-Eye On Borrelia: A Commensal And Consequential Pathogen, Alan L. Gillen

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If Lyme disease causes such urgent and chronic disease issues, where do Borrelia bacteria and ticks fit into a very good creation (Genesis 1)? How did bacteria and ticks change to rely on different hosts and blood for survival? And how are these adaptations informing today’s research in bacteriology, immunology, entomology, and disease ecology? The purposeful placement of Borrelia (Fig. 1) is most likely in the gut of wild mice (Fig. 2), not domesticated mice nor man. The bacteria are communalistic in wild mice, where they may be probiotic for mutual good (Fig. 2)—the Creator made it for good at …

Principals' Perceived Leadership Training For Inclusive K-12 Education, Lettie E. Webster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adequate training and professional development enhance school principals’ effectiveness in leading inclusive K-12 schools. The problem addressed in this study was the gap in the literature on K-12 principals’ perceptions of the essential elements of preparation and ongoing professional development needed for effective leadership in inclusive educational settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore K-12 school principals’ perceptions of essential components of preparation for effective leadership and the role of ongoing professional development in enhancing their effectiveness as leaders in inclusive educational settings. Beard’s engaged school leadership theory served as the conceptual framework. For this basic qualitative …

Mechanistic Determination Of Host Environmental Impacts On Shigella Virulence, Nicholas E. Dickenson

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Molecular And Secretory Responses Of Equine Ovarian Follicles To Estradiol And Sulpiride Treatment, Madalyn Autin

LSU Master's Theses

Mares entering seasonal anovulation during winter present a significant challenge for equine breeding programs. Treatment with estradiol cypionate (ECP) and sulpiride in a long-acting vehicle can advance the first ovulation of the season; however, the molecular and secretory mechanisms underlying this response remain unclear. This study compared follicle wall gene expression and endocrine factors (from blood plasma and follicular fluid) among seasonally anovulatory mares responding to ECP-sulpiride (RESP; n = 15, treated with 50 mg ECP and 3 g sulpiride), mares undergoing natural spring transition (ST; n = 16, vehicle-treated only), and mares cycling during the summer ovulatory season (SOV; …

Privacy-Preserving Intrusion Detection For The Internet Of Medical Things Using Ensemble And Federated Learning, Theyab Alsolami

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid proliferation of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has transformed healthcare by enabling continuous monitoring, intelligent diagnostics, and data-driven clinical decision-making. However, this increased connectivity has significantly expanded the attack surface of healthcare systems, exposing sensitive patient data and critical medical devices to cyber threats such as intrusion and data exfiltration attacks. Ensuring both strong security and strict privacy preservation in IoMT environments remains a fundamental and unresolved challenge.

This dissertation investigates the design and evaluation of robust and privacy-preserving intrusion detection systems (IDS) for IoMT networks using advanced machine learning techniques. The research first examines the effectiveness …

Association Between Occupational Stress, Sleep Quality, And Premature Ejaculation Among Indonesian Information Technology Workers, Muhammad Faisal Ratman, Suryo Wibowo, Muhammad Ilyas, Retno Asti Werdhani, Dewi Yunia Fitriani

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction that significantly impacts quality of life. Occupational stress and poor sleep quality are hypothesized as risk factors, particularly among Information and Technology (IT) workers who experience unique occupational stressors. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of PE, examine the influence of occupational stress and sleep quality on PE, and determine whether sleep quality mediates the relationship between occupational stress and PE among Indonesian IT workers.

Methods This cross-sectional study involved 89 married male IT workers who completed online questionnaires, including the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), Perceived Occupational Stress (POS) …

Explainable Machine Learning For Biomedical Diagnostics: Optical Imaging And Eeg Signal Analysis, Fozia Rajbdad

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The growing convenience of complex biomedical data begins new roads for better disease detection and functional identification via artificial intelligence (AI). Nevertheless, conventional analysis methods often rely on basic metrics that drop sensitive biotic differences, and various AI systems are difficult to infer, limiting their clinical reliability and practical use. There is a growing need for explainable, physiologically relevant computational models that can extract key biomarkers from diverse biomedical data sources. This dissertation addresses this problem by obtaining explainable machine learning and deep learning procedures for studying biomedical signals and optical imaging data.

This dissertation is divided into two parts; …

Kinds Of Evidence Cited By Councilors In Municipal Council Sessions: The Case Of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines, Junald D. Ango

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This paper explores the practice of evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) in the municipal council of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines. Data for this study is based on a content analysis of the minutes of council sessions and committee meetings from July 2022 to August 2024. The use of evidence in policymaking has caught on among policymakers in the Philippines, at both the national and local levels. However, few studies have examined policymakers' use of evidence in municipal governments, especially those in smaller, less urbanized towns. In the case of the Municipality of Santa Fe, at least 13 kinds of evidence were cited …

Volatility Spillovers Between Stock Prices And Exchange Rates: Insights For Risk Management And Investment Strategies: Evidence From China, India, And Pakistan Using Bekk-Garch Models, Samreen Fatima, Humera Sultana, Muhammad Najamuddin Dr., Saba Naz

The Indonesian Capital Market Review

This study investigates the dynamics of volatility and its spillover effects between the stock markets of China, India, and Pakistan, and their respective exchange rates (USD/CNY, USD/INR, and USD/ PKR). Volatility is modeled using the Symmetric and Asymmetric BEKK-GARCH (1,1) and DCCGARCH (1,1) models, based on daily return series covering the period from January 1, 2019, to January 31, 2025. The empirical results indicate that both the employed models are adequate for capturing the volatility dynamics. The findings reveal that the highest value of portfolio weights and hedging efficiency of KSE-100 Index–USD/PKR provide optimal portfolio allocation and highest hedging performance …

Interstitial Fluid N-Glycans Serve As A Proxy For Serum Biomarker Discovery In A Pilot Study, Radka Saldova, Talus K. Gaymore, Caitriona Walsh, Eder Zavala, Paula M. Mendes

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Protein glycosylation is the most prevalent post-translational modification and is known to undergo profound alterations in disease. While serum N-glycosylation has been extensively studied, interstitial fluid is gaining prominence as a minimally invasive biomarker source, underscored by the widespread clinical adoption of wearable glucose monitors in diabetic patients. However, the glycomic landscape of interstitial fluid remains largely unexplored. Here, we have performed a comparative analysis of the N-glycome from interstitial fluid and matched plasma from five healthy volunteers using liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and exoglycosidase digestions. Strikingly, the interstitial fluid N-glycome closely shows overlapping profiles with the plasma of each …

Gastrostomy Tube Stabilization Device, Nicole Yoo, Aliya Ali, Iqra Amer, Valentin Troncoso-Trevino, Gina Martini, Priscila Hernandez, Jessica Lopez

2025

No abstract provided.

Residual Effects Of Childhood Sexual Victimization On Black Caribbean Immigrants’ Adult Functionality, Sophia Elaine Profit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual victimization is associated with long-term psychological, emotional, and functional challenges that may persist into adulthood. Despite a growing body of literature on childhood trauma, limited research has explored its residual effects on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the residual effects of childhood sexual victimization on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 9 participants through social media platforms. Rational choice theory served as the conceptual framework to examine how trauma-related and sociocultural factors shaped participants' decision-making processes. Data were collected …

Food And Drug Administration Audit Outcomes And Their Association With Class I And Class Ii Food Recalls, Mark Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foodborne illness and food recalls remain major public health concerns in the United States. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the purpose of this quantitative secondary analysis was to examine whether Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection classifications, warning letters, and prior 24-month inspection frequency were associated with facility involvement in a subsequent Class I or Class II food recall. Question-specific analytic files were created from publicly available FDA administrative records. Eligible records included FDA-regulated food facilities with qualifying inspection or warning letter events and sufficient data to assess recall involvement within a 12-month follow-up period. The final analytic …

Perceived Level Of Preparedness For A Terrorist Event Between State, Local And Tribal Law Enforcement Officers, Herbert Henderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this quantitative cross-sectional study, differences in perceived preparedness among state, local, and tribal law upon Kingdon’s multiple streams approach and Baumgartner and Jones’ punctuated equilibrium theory to explain administrative changes in law enforcement following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Data were collected from 53 full-time police officers across state, local and tribal agencies using a web-based survey instrument measuring enforcement officers in a northern border region were examined. Officers’ perceived preparedness to identify, prevent, and respond to future terrorist threats were evaluated. Whether perceived preparedness differed by agency type and whether officers with military experience or advanced homeland security …

Administrative Discharge Strategies To Decrease Readmission Rates Of Black Patients In Acute Care Hospitals, Patricia Cummings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High 30-day hospital readmission rates among Black patients remain a healthcare administration problem associated with high costs and poor care quality. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based discharge planning strategies to reduce hospital readmissions among Black patients. The review question was used to examine strategies healthcare administrators can implement to enhance discharge planning for Black patients. Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome model guided the review. A literature search yielded 87 relevant articles; 27 articles published from 2021 through 2026 were appraised using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model, and 25 were used in this review. Thematic analysis resulted in …

Neurofilament Light Chain (Nfl) As A Surrogate Outcome Measure For Gm2 Gangliosidoses., Kyriakos Martakis, Nicolas J. Abreu, Joshua J. Baker, Peter R. Baker Ii, Ian Billington, T Andrew Burrow, Mallory Factor, Taylor Fields, Cassandra Fields, Jennifer L. Gannon, Megan Grosso, Jorgji Kerthi, Marc C. Patterson, Brian J. Shayota, Michael Strupp, Lennard Strupp, Tatiana Bremova-Ert

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The GM2 gangliosidoses (GM2) are ultra-rare neurodegenerative disorders caused by deficient hexosaminidase A and/or B activity, leading to lysosomal GM2 ganglioside accumulation. Disease onset ranges from infancy to adulthood, with earlier onset associated with more rapid progression. Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a sensitive marker of axonal injury, has been extensively investigated as a biomarker for neurodegenerative disorders, including GM2.

METHODS: To evaluate its clinical utility as a biomarker for GM2, NfL was measured in patients with GM2 enrolled in a Phase 2b, multinational, rater-blinded study of levacetylleucine [NCT03759665], and in its open-label Extension Phase (EP).

RESULTS: Nineteen participants had …

Continuous 1:1 Sitter Observation Versus Standard Safety Interventions To Reduce Falls In Hospitalized Adults At Risk, Zainab Williams

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Patient falls remain a significant patient safety concern among hospitalized adults, particularly those at high risk. Traditional fall-prevention strategies, including continuous 1:1 sitter observation, require evaluation to determine their effectiveness in reducing falls and fall-related injuries.

PICOT: In hospitalized adult patients at high risk for falls (P), does continuous 1:1 sitter observation (I), compared to standard safety interventions (C), reduce fall rates (O) as measured by reported falls per 1,000 patient days during hospitalization over 12 weeks (T)?

Evidence: Current evidence supports multifactorial fall-prevention programs that combine patient assessment, staff engagement, and proactive nursing interventions through intentional rounding. …

Nitrogen Management Strategies For Specialty Tea Production In Louisiana: Rate, Source Type, And Nutrient Dynamics, Autumn D. Hilderbrand

LSU Master's Theses

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is an emerging specialty crop in Louisiana and the southeastern United States; however, region-specific nitrogen (N) management recommendations remain limited. This research evaluated N fertilizer source, application rate, and nutrient leaching to identify management strategies that improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and environmental sustainability during tea establishment.

Three complementary studies evaluated N source replacement, application rate, and fertilizer source effects on nutrient retention and movement. The first study evaluated the replacement of urea ammonium sulfate (UAS) with blood meal (BM) while maintaining a constant annual N application rate. Fertilizer replacement did not significantly affect leaf …

Strengthening Local Culture-Based Speech Acts Use To Mediate Ecological Sustainability: A New Insight From Congko Lokap Ritual In Manggarai, Indonesia, Karolus Budiman Jama, Sebastianus Menggo

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Ritual speech acts strengthen language and culture by articulating meaning, function, and the role of utterances as a cohesive channel connecting humans, culture, nature, and spirituality. Previous studies have paid limited attention to the types and values of speech acts rooted in indigenous wisdom as mechanisms for promoting ecological sustainability and forest conservation. This study aims to examine the types and values of speech acts in the Congko Lokap ritual from the perspective of the Manggarai community to alleviate sustainable environmental damage in Indonesia. A phenomenological approach with a descriptive qualitative design was employed. Data were collected through interviews, observations, …

Do Voters Understand The Benefits Of Taxes?, Benjamin Carter, Alessandro Del Ponte, Peter Discioli

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

We use economic experiments to study a fundamental question in political economy: Do voters understand the benefits of taxes? Participants play an economic game as members of a virtual society composed of computer players. In each round, the players earn low or high income, see the distribution of income, and then vote for low or high taxes. We test whether participants vote rationally for high taxes when poor and low taxes when rich, following a classic model in political economy, or whether they focus on the burden of taxes more than the benefits. Across three experiments, poor players voted against …

321-323-325 W. 42nd St. Llc V. Hong

All Decisions

Court granted tenant's motion for leave to amend pro se answer under CPLR 3025(b) in this GCEL holdover premised on alleged nonpayment of rent. Court found landlord failed to show the proposed amended answer patently lacked merit, and that its general claim of prejudice due to the timing of the motion was insufficient.

Less Frequent Versus More Frequent Cervical Examinations In Labor: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Alessandro Petrecca, Benedetta Bina, Chiara Tersigni, Tullio Ghi, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Digital cervical examinations are central to intrapartum care, yet their optimal frequency remains uncertain and is largely based on consensus rather than high-quality evidence.

OBJECTIVES: To compare less frequent versus more frequent cervical examinations during labor in terms of obstetrical, maternal and neonatal outcomes.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed Central, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to August 2025, without language or geographic restrictions. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251033729).

SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials comparing different frequencies of cervical examinations in term singleton pregnancies during labor were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers …